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How to Heat a Barn: A Guide for Consumers

Like any industrial or commercial space, barns present their own unique set of heating requirements, and special consideration is needed before selecting the proper heat source. This is especially true since barns often house living creatures and livestock.

A heater that is suitable for your home isn’t necessarily ideal for your barn due to differences in size, material construction, layout, and infrastructure. An undersized heater can lead to discomfort, poor health, or even fatalities during the cold season for your animals. Conversely, an oversized heater can result in energy wastage and unnecessarily high utility costs.

Then there’s the safety aspect. Each year, over half a million barn animals are killed in barn fires, with the majority of cases concentrated in cold northeastern states. At Total Home Supply, we are committed to helping our customers choose only the best possible heaters for different applications. This post is designed to help you consider everything you need to know about barn heating and how to choose the best heater for your barn.

Barn Heating Basics

Livestock

If you use your barn to keep livestock, the most important factor in barn heating is the health and safety of your animals. Many cattle are fairly resistant to colder temperatures, and excessive supplemental heat can actually be detrimental to their health. According to the US Department of Agriculture, the optimum core body temperature for livestock is within a 2°C to 3°C range. Any deviation beyond this range can cause disruptions that impact an animal’s ability to produce meat, milk, or eggs. Temperature deviations of 5°C to 7°C often result in death.

To determine whether a supplemental heat source is necessary, consider the average winter temperatures in your region and the types of animals you keep.

Most large farm animals such as horses, cows, sheep, pigs, and mules tolerate cold weather well, but if you live in a region where temperatures regularly dip below 30-35º F, you may want to consider livestock heaters, even to use sparingly during intense cold fronts.

Below are the optimum temperatures for the two major types of livestock: cows and swine, based on a Purdue University study:

Optimal livestock heating temperatures

Smaller animals such as chickens, rabbits, dogs, and cats require slightly more heat. A supplemental heating source should be considered in regions where temperatures regularly dip and stay below 40º F.

As a general rule, most farm animals (except for the very young) have an optimum temperature range of 60-70º F.

All farm animals should be monitored closely during winter to ensure they aren’t losing weight or suffering other health problems due to cold stress.

Barn Areas that Need Heating

Even if you determine that stalls don’t require supplemental heat, it doesn’t mean that other parts of your barn can do without heating. Sick, injured, or young animals need to be kept sufficiently warm, so your vet room or quarantine area must have a heating source.

Another area that requires heating is the water tank to prevent the animals’ water supply from freezing.

If you keep dairy cows, you may also want to heat your milking room.

Recommended Heaters for Livestock Barns

The absolute best heating option for livestock barns is an infrared/radiant gas heater.

Radiant technology works much like the heat from the sun, warming people, animals, and objects (including floors and walls) rather than the air. Infrared heaters do not blow heat (though many come equipped with a blower, its use is entirely optional), so the air inside the barn won’t become overly dry or suffocating. Because it mimics natural, solar heat energy, radiant heat is soothing to animals and may help combat seasonal depression common in several species (including humans).

Radiant heat can also be directed at specific objects or areas, allowing you to choose exactly which parts of your barn get heated. This is especially useful for nursing sick or injured animals, as radiant heat can be directed at a single stall without disrupting others.

Infrared gas heaters are safe to use and are usually lightweight enough to be moved around to accommodate extra heat as needed. Radiant heaters are not vented, but because infrared units heat objects, not air, they work well with your barn’s existing ventilation system, ensuring clean air without heat loss.

If your barn is not used for keeping livestock, there are slightly fewer considerations when seeking a heating solution. Many people use their barns for storage or workshop purposes only, with the primary concern being keeping tools in optimal condition throughout the cold winter months.

Empire Comfort Systems SR-30TW Vent-Free Infrared Radiant Gas Heater

Empire Comfort Systems SR-30TW Vent Free 30000 BTU Infrared/Radiant Gas Heater with Thermostat Control

Perfect for heating large areas, the SR30TW quickly fills the room with 30,000 BTU of warmth at the touch of a button. It features a hydraulic thermostat with top-mounted controls for easy operation, and the push-button igniter eliminates the need for matches.

The heater is available in natural gas or liquid propane versions.

Empire Comfort Systems SR-30TW Vent Free 30000 BTU Infrared/Radiant Gas Heater with Thermostat Control
Price: $1,009.00 Empire Comfort Systems SR-30TW Vent Free 30000 BTU Infrared/Radiant Gas Heater with Thermostat Control

Perfect for heating large areas, the SR30TW quickly fills the room with 30,000 BTU of warmth at the touch of a button. The SR-30TW has a hydraulic thermostat ...

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Equipment

Not all barns are used to house livestock. Some are used to store equipment, which may have its own heating requirements.

One such area is the barn’s tack room. A heater keeps equipment from suffering damage or cracks in cold weather and allows you to work comfortably even in the dead of winter.

Most tools perform well in cold weather as long as they have time to warm up before use. Manual tools can crack or snap if they become too frigid, and power tools can be strained if used without proper warm-up time. Proper storage of your tools can act as a bit of insulation to prevent them from getting too cold, but you’ll still want to consider an extra heat source to maintain a comfortable environment for both your tools and yourself.

Recommended Heaters for Storage Barns

UDAP heaters are excellent for heating large, industrial spaces, making them a perfect choice for barns used for storage and workshop purposes. UDAP units are gas-powered and, unlike infrared heaters, work to heat the indoor air first, providing fast, effective heating that allows you to utilize your space more comfortably and efficiently.

The two main concerns for users interested in this type of heater are:

  • Accommodating the unit’s size
  • The cost of operation

Industrial heaters are generally larger than other heaters, but the Reznor UDAP units conveniently suspend from the ceiling, freeing up all wall and floor space for storage. These units are also designed to operate at 83% thermal efficiency, meaning they cost significantly less to operate than other heaters of the same size and capabilities.

If you use your barn solely for equipment storage, consider a Reznor industrial heater.

Reznor UDX-100 105,000 BTU Power Vented Gas Fired Unit Heater

Reznor UDX-100 105,000 BTU Power Vented Gas Fired Unit Heater

Offering an industry-leading 82% thermal efficiency and a variety of BTU options, the UDX series of heaters delivers exceptional heat performance for areas both large and small.

These Reznor heaters are easy to install, secured in place from 2 or 4 suspension points or by an optional hanger kit that allows for ceiling mounting. Thermostat setup is quick, with a low-voltage terminal strip on the outside of the cabinet that simplifies connecting control wiring without needing to remove panels. The factory-installed gas line input is located on the backside of the unit heater, making the gas connection straightforward.

Reznor has enhanced their UDX heaters for better performance and user experience. Features include Reznor’s patented TCore² titanium-stabilized aluminized steel heat exchanger and the “G” terminal strip, along with a newly designed circuit board that allows for fan-only operation without adding relays.

DISCONTINUEDReznor UDX-100 105,000 BTU Power Vented Gas Fired Unit Heater
Price: $1,449.00 DISCONTINUEDReznor UDX-100 105,000 BTU Power Vented Gas Fired Unit Heater

For a long time Reznor has been providing the best heaters for a variety of applications. Reznor has improved their already industry leading technologies with...

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How to Heat a Barn

Once you’ve established if and where you would like to install a barn heater, the next step is determining how to do it.

1. Insulate it.

The single best thing you can do for your barn — any barn — is ensure it is properly insulated. Most modern American barns are constructed from steel, which offers no insulation on its own. Steel can become very cold or very hot, increasing the likelihood of condensation buildup. Condensation and humidity can damage your supplies and the barn’s infrastructure over time, as well as pose dangerous health risks to your animals due to added moisture in the air and on walls, floors, and bedding. Additionally, condensation and humidity resulting from significant temperature swings can cause your tools and supplies to rust.

Insulation helps stabilize your barn’s indoor temperature, making condensation buildup much less likely and keeping your barn warmer in the winter. Spray foam insulation is the preferred choice for steel-sided barns, as it works 50% more effectively at stabilizing indoor air temperatures, eliminating the need for a vapor barrier to control condensation and humidity. For best results, ensure your insulation is 4″–6″ thick, depending on the severity of your region’s winters.

In regions with more moderate winters, a few inches of insulation may suffice to get you through to spring. However, colder regions will still want to consider a supplemental heating unit for their barn.

2. Choose a Correctly Sized Heater

Any of the infrared/radiant heaters and unit heaters listed on our website would be fantastic choices for your barn. The only remaining consideration is determining the exact size you need to best accommodate your space.

Size is determined by BTU rating, a topic we’ve covered before in regards to air conditioners. The same basic rules apply to heating BTUs: the larger the space, the more BTUs are required. We offer infrared heaters featuring 10,000–30,000 BTUs, which accommodate spaces 300–1,000 square feet in size, respectively, and unit heaters featuring 30,000–400,000 BTUs, suitable for any space over 1,000 square feet.

Pole Barn Heaters

Pole barns are structures built with wooden posts that are buried directly into the ground. Unlike standard barns, pole barns do not have a traditional foundation—they typically have a basic concrete floor or a dirt floor.

Pole barns are typically used for storing equipment such as tractors, lawnmowers, and combines. They also function well as workshops.

Like standard barns, pole barns do not offer much insulation on their own. Therefore, the first step to heating your pole barn is to insulate it with fiberglass, foam, or cellulose.

If you’re looking to add heat to your pole barn, we always recommend the unit heaters. As mentioned above, these heaters work by heating the actual air in the barn rather than just the objects, allowing you to enjoy efficient and effective heat.

Next Steps

If you’re interested in heating your barn but are still unsure which heater is best for your needs, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our resident heating specialists. We’ll help you size and shop for the right barn heating option to keep your space comfortable all season long.

Kristen Turner

Featured blogger for Total Home Supply.

7 thoughts on “How to Heat a Barn: A Guide for Consumers”

  1. Richard Thomas says:

    I would like some advise on heating our barn. We have two horses with 12 by 12 foot stalls. We do not have natural gas so electric seems to be the only option. What do you suggest?

  2. Adelaida Valdez says:

    Hi we need some advice to heat our barn, we are in Virginia, the size is 2,400 sq with 10 stalls with horses we have electricity in our barn

  3. Chuck Pauley says:

    I interested in the most efficient way of heating my pole barn located in the mountains of Idaho. I’m insulating with foam. I will be storing my vintage car collection in this space so I need to have a controlled environment. Suggestions?

  4. Cheryl Saunders says:

    Hi
    We are starting a barn Venue in a historical wooden barn in Wisconsin.
    Is it possible to use infrared heaters like outside eateries have on their patios?

  5. Kellie jones says:

    Hello there,
    I have a pole barn that I have enclosed for goat livestock for the winter. I am concerned about the upcoming months for our goats since we are about to kid out and the biggest problem I have with them is that the babys freeze to the ground even with using straw for insulation on the ground.Our winters are so unpredictable but we have mainly temps that are in the 23° for the highs in day but could drop to 15° and below at night.i am looking for the correct source of heat to keep this from happening.We do have a dirt floor and it’s about 1000sq ft or a little more.we have used 2 torpedoes with 180,000 BTU on each end of the barn and no luck with having enough heat what can I do for options that are affordable and they will still be comfortable for my birthing babys during winter.

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